Month: November 2012

Bilingual Story, Dual-language Story

Bilingual Post: se sublimer (and more about the creative process)

  The painted sign reads: "To live well, love well, and let the others say what they will!" Pour bien vivre, bien aimer, et laisser dire. (Picture taken during our family vacation in Aosta, Italy. I repost this photo often because the message is so good and a needed reminder!)  se sublimer (seuh-soo-blee-may)     : to transcend oneself, to go beyond one's limits Example … Continue reading Bilingual Post: se sublimer (and more about the creative process)

Kristin Espinasse58 Comments
Grignan

charming way to say “eye-candy” in French

  Hats outside a shopfront in Paris, to go along with today's quote bonheur pour les yeux     : eye-candy Audio File: (check back later for Jean-Marc's recording. Meantime, help! I need your assistance translating today's example sentence. Click here to leave your translation.) Le bonheur des yeux lui ferait-il raccrocher son cœur comme le chapeau du porte-manteau ? (Philippe Rousseau, L'Or des ecrins) Recent Interviews: Listen … Continue reading charming way to say “eye-candy” in French

Kristin Espinasse40 Comments
inspiration, Smokey, Vlogging

Need encouragement? How to say “If at first you don’t succeed try try again”

Thank you for your encouraging feedback on the recent video I made with Smokey. But after trying and failing to make a follow up recording, I'm wondering if I should just stick to photography (today's pic taken on our Rhone river cruise) instead! In times like these, I find the following saying to be particularly reassuring:  dix fois sur le métier, remettre son ouvrage!    … Continue reading Need encouragement? How to say “If at first you don’t succeed try try again”

Kristin Espinasse41 Comments
Susan, Tipping

pourboire: How to say tip in French

Today, in the US, it's Le Jour de Merci Donnant and I'm busy giving thanks for the people in my life, including YOU and Rouge-Bleu. Read more about my high-school chum in today's story. Note: you haven't heard much about Susan, over the years–that's because I haven't had the chance to see her much. I do have a funny photo, near the end of this … Continue reading pourboire: How to say tip in French

Kristin Espinasse21 Comments
Tipping

plein d’entrain

Fall colors in France's 3rd largest city, Lyon, where our croisière fluviale docked on the last day of the AMA Waterways river cruise. If you dream of traveling the French canals, please do me a favor by contacting my best friend, Susan, for details of our Rhône river trip. Her email is Susan@CriticsChoiceVacations.com or call her at 480-831-9076. Today's word: plein d'entrainIn the category of French words I often hear but … Continue reading plein d’entrain

Kristin Espinasse30 Comments
Lyon, Unofficial Terms and Expressions

le soleil liquide

In autumn, when the sky turns gray, all the hidden colors come out to have their say. While strolling with my dear friend Susan, my eyes drank in this vibrant scene, along a cobbled path in Vieux Lyon. The stones in the back wall seem to have caught the colorful fever. Notice how their colors reflect those of the giant balls of light. More color for … Continue reading le soleil liquide

Kristin Espinasse21 Comments
French Destinations

fluvial

Picture taken at the hilltop village of Les Baux de Provence. fluvial(e) adjective (flew-vee-al)     : river, riverine; flowing Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read the following example sentence and the list of French terms:  Download MP3 or Wav file Kristi et sa meilleure amie, Susan, sont parties pour une croisière fluviale sur le Rhône. Kristi and her best friend, Susan, went on a Rhône river cruise.  … Continue reading fluvial

Kristin Espinasse25 Comments
Uncategorized

My Journey from Arizona to France

In 1993 I found myself back in the Arizona desert, having been deported there by one disillusioned Frenchman. Jean-Marc and I had tried to live together—lasting a full ten months—but all that sizzling chemistry that fueled us in the beginning eventually fizzled out, and our Franco-American romance was over. Jean-Marc's mind was set. To prove it, he bought me a one-way ticket back to Phoenix! Back … Continue reading My Journey from Arizona to France

Kristin Espinasse47 Comments
GMOs, Health

nourrir

In a nearby calanque… I'm counting on our 17-year-old, Max, to bring home more "fruits of the sea"… because I sure don't trust some of the fruits they're selling us at the supermarket! Read on, in today's story column. (Photos in today's post are by Jean-Marc) nourrir (noo-reer)     : to feed, to nourish Audio File: Listen to Jean-Marc read this vocab list: Download MP3 or Wav … Continue reading nourrir

Kristin Espinasse61 Comments